Means for maintaining the fluid level of storage batteries



Nov. l, 1938. w. wou-'ORD MEANS FOR MAINTAININGTIE FLUID LEVEL 0F STORAGE BATTERIES Filed Sept. 18, 1936 El E E WVQQVWR m4 (NW3 Patented Nov. l, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEANS FOR MAINT THE FLUID 2. Claims.

This invention relates todevices by means of which the duid in a container may be maintained at a constant level.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device of the character described which will automatically replenish the fluid, of the individual cells of a storage battery, lost through evaporation.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device which, in preventing the fluid in the several cells of a battery from falling to such a level as to uncover the surfaces of the plates,

will prevent injury to the plates and materially extend the useful life of the battery.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide a novel uid reservoir comprising a plurality of separate compartments which may be simultaneously filled and which will automatically feed fluid to the battery cells to replenish that removed therefrom by evaporation.

The invention possesses other objects and valuable features, some of which, together with the foregoing, will be specifically set forth in the specification hereunto annexed. It is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the particular form thereof shown vand described as various other embodiments thereof may be employed within the scope of the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure l is afront elevational view showing the apparatus of my invention attached to a storage battery. Portions of the battery are broken away so as to more clearly disclose the internal construction, and the fluid reservoir is shown in section.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of' the uid reservoir with the closure cap of the filling aperture removed.

i0 Figure `3 is a cross sectional view of the fluid reservoir. The plane in which the view is taken is indicated by the line 3 3 of Figure l.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view, to an enlarged scale, showing the construction of one of L5 the connectors which attach the feed conduits to the battery.

In detail, the invention is adapted for use with any duid-electrolyte storage battery 5 having individual cells 'l containing plates 8 and fluid elec- `0 trolyte. Each cell is provided with the usual cover I Il having therein the usual removable service cap through which water may be added to the electrolyte and the interior of the battery maybe inspected, and an additional removable 5 cap Il.

(c1. la7-21S My invention contemplates providing a reservoir I2, preferably composed oi' glass or other transparent material, having three separate compartments I3, adapted to contain quantities of distilled water I4, and each of the compartments is provided at its bottom with an aperture surrounded by a hub I5. Through each o1' these apertures-passes a rubber tube I6 having a central partition Il which divides the tube into separate ducts I8 and I9. The tube, as is shown lo in Figure 1 extends upwardly beyond the level of the fluid I 4 and the duct I9, is in communicationvwith the chambers below the water. level thereof through an aperturel 20. To maintain a fluid-tight connection between the reservoir and 15 the tubes I6, each tube is fitted with a rubber sleeve 2l which tightly engages the surfaces of the tube and the hub I5. It is obvious that the ducts I8 and I9 may be provided yby dispensing with the partition Il and placing an additional 'lo tube within the tube I6 thus providing two concentric passages. Y

The-lower end of each tube, as is best shown in Figure 4, passes through the bore of a hard 'rubber connector elbow 22 and a rubber sleeve 23 g5 is provided here between the beaded outer end of the elbow and tube for maintaining a, uidtight joint. 'I'he opposite end of the elbow is externally threaded to engage a threaded aperture formed in the cap I I, or, if desired, the elbow may 30 be threaded directly into the cell cover I0. 'I'he lower end of each duct I9 of the tubes I8, it will be noted in Figure 1, terminates at the normal level of the electrolyte 3 in each cell.

The partitions 3|, which divide the reservoir 35 into the several chambers I3, are shaped so that their central portions approach closely adjacent each other and extend upwardly into the aperture 32 of the 'reservoir cover, and the aperture is made of such size that a considerable part of o each chamber is exposed therethrough. It will be obvious that in filling the chambers with water, from a container, through the aperture 32 the stream of water may be directed into any 45 of the chambers. 'I'he portions of the partitions which extend upwardly into the filling opening are provided so that the throats of the several divisions of the openings will be flush with the top of the flange of the aperture 32 thus per 50 mitting the stream of water from a bottle or other container to be readily directed into any one of the chambers I3 without any diversion of portions of the stream which would possibly occur if the partitions terminated a considerable Il distance below the top of the Bange. To pro-` vide a seal for the chambers Il. a'closure cap Il is provided for the filling aperture $2.

In actual use the reservoir I! is permanently fixed, preferably in the motor compartment of a the seal will be broken and air will rise from the cell through the duct into the chamber I8 thereby permitting water to flow from the chamber which, of course, i'iows downwardly through the duct i9 into the cell until the level of the uid in the cells rise to close the end of the duct I., whereupon the flow of water from the chamber will cease.

The tubes Il are made of rubber, in preference to metal, to insure that no harmful oxides will be carried into the battery cells by the incoming water from the reservoir, which would possibly occur if the tubes were made of iron or copper alloys.

The multi-unit reservoir construction, and the separate conduits from each water storage compartment to the individual cells of the battery are provided chiefly for the purpose of providing thorough insulation of' the cells and chambers from each other thereby eliminating current losses and short circuits through the reserve water.

The device just described, when the reservoir is lled with water, is capable of automatically maintaining the iluid level of a storage battery constant, thereby obviating the necessity of frequent inspections of the battery to insure that the fluid is at a safe level. Since the reservoir is capable of holding a material quantity of water it will maintain the level of the battery electroimmawnnambupamaummm remlingofthsreservoirisnecessary.

In addition to the above features. the reservoir providesmeans for checking themechanical conditionofthebatternsinceifanabnormalquantityofwatenasindicatedbytheihndlevelin thereservoir,isconsumedbyacertainceil.thisis.

indicative that that particular cell is overheating or leaking and should-be checked by a batter! expert. Thiswilloftenrcsultinforestallinga possible failure of the battery at a crucial time and the saving of considerable expense attendant thereon. or in the replacement of a ruined battery.

I claim:

l. In apparatus for maintaining the level of fluid electrolyte in storage batteries havingindividual cells, a unitary transparent iluid reservoir having partitions therein dividing laid reservoir into a plurality of separate compartments, each of said compartments having therein an aperture. conduits passing through the respective apertures, a cover for said reservoir having a central opening therein, and each of said partitions having a portion rising therefrom and entering said cover opening in such manner as to divide said opening into a plurality of lesser openings, each communicating with. a separate reservoir compartment.

2. In apparatus for maintaining the level of fluid electrolyte in storage batteries having individual cells, a unitary transparent fluid reservoir having partitions therein dividing said reservoir into a plurality of separate compartments, each of said compartments having therein an aperture, conduits passing through the respective apertures, a cover for said reservoir having a central open-` ing therein surrounded by an upstanding peripheral ange,` and each of said partitions having a portion rising therefrom and entering and extending through said cover opening into the space surrounded by said ange in such manner as to divide said opening into a plurality of lesser openings each communicating with a separate reservoir compartment.

. WALTER L. WOLIHORD. 

